Health Day New Guidelines Have Some Stroke Patients Dropping Aspirin That Could Be Dangerous Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 14 July 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Health Day New Guidelines Have Some Stroke Patients Dropping Aspirin That Could Be Dangerous Shlee Song, MD, is director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center and the Telestroke Program at Cedars-Sinai and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. Health Day recently spoke with Shlee S. Song, MD, director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Cedars-Sinai, to clarify new guidelines regarding the preventive use of aspirin among patients at risk for developing cardiovascular issues. According to the new guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a daily low dose of aspirin might not be right for patients ages 60 to 69 who do not have a history of heart attack or stroke. For these patients, the risk of bleeding could outweigh the benefits. But Song, a professor of Neurosurgery, worries this nuanced message will be misunderstood. "The task force recommends a discussion with the doctor to see if the benefits outweigh the risk," Song told Health Day. "There is a marginal risk reduction with aspirin in the 40- to 59-year age range and the physician or the clinical team member needs to really make sure that the bleeding risk does not outweigh the potential benefit here." Song said patients with stomach ulcers or bleeding issues in the gut should not take aspirin unless there is a reason to do so. Before prescribing aspirin, physicians should screen patients for symptoms such as heartburn or changes in bowel habits. But patients who have a history of heart attacks, atrial fibrillation (chaotic heart signals), strokes or stents should continue to take low-dose aspirin. Even if it’s been years, their risk factors remain the same, Song told Health Day. "Some patients think they’re in the same primary prevention group because the stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) or the heart attack happened years ago. [They think] 'So I’m with the general public, right?’ No, you’re not," Song told Health Day. "It’s because you’ve had this relevant history that we need to continue the aspirin." If patients wish to discontinue taking low-dose aspirin, Song recommended consulting their physician. Click here to read the complete article from Health Day. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release Health Day New Guidelines Have Some Stroke Patients Dropping Aspirin That Could Be Dangerous Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home